The Clearinghouse does not provide medical advice, treatment recommendations, or referrals to practitioners. St. John’s wort is very effective in treating depression as it contains a combination of antidepressant chemicals that delay or inhibit the reuptake of neurotransmitters (chemicals that allow the transmission of signals from one neuron to the next across synapses) such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. In fact, some research has shown the supplement to be as effective as several prescription antidepressants. St. John’s wort is a flowering shrub native to Europe which has been used as a medicinal herb for its anti-inflammatory and antidepressant properties for over 2,000 years. For more information on depression, visit the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Web page on depression. According to several of these studies, St. John’s wort may be more effective than a placebo (sugar pill), and as effective as prescription antidepressants, in treating mild depression. Talk with health care providers if you’re pregnant or nursing or are considering giving a dietary supplement to a child. Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter. St. John’s Wort is an old home remedy mainly used for depression. Rapaport MH, Nierenberg AA, Howland R, et al. Inadequately treated depression may become severe and, in some cases, may be associated with suicide. Although there is a stronger mood amplifier available in the nootropic class, St. John’s Wort is reviewed as being quite effective for dealing with anxiety problems associated with depression. Chen JA, Papakostas GI, Youn SJ, et al. A service of the National Library of Medicine, PubMed® contains publication information and (in most cases) brief summaries of articles from scientific and medical journals. Historically, St. John’s wort has been used for a variety of conditions, including kidney and lung ailments, insomnia, and depression, and to aid wound healing. Cyclosporine, used to prevent the body from rejecting transplanted  organs, Some cancer medications, including irinotecan. St. John's wort is most often taken in liquid or capsules. St. John's wort is a herb containing hypericin, which seems to give it antibacterial and antiviral properties. Clinical trials are necessary to find better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. St. John's wort can interact with medicines or supplements you may be taking and may have side effects. In 2015, almost 7 percent of U.S. adults had at least one episode of major depression in the past year. NCCIH thanks the following people for their technical expertise and review of this publication: Jonathan R.T. Davidson, M.D., Duke University; David Mischoulon, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital; and D. Craig Hopp, Ph.D., and David Shurtleff, Ph.D., NCCIH. But because St. John's wort causes many drug interactions it might not be an appropriate choice, particularly if you take any prescription drugs. —Combining St. John’s wort with certain antidepressants can lead to a potentially St. John's wort has been used in alternative medicine as a likely effective aid in treating mild to moderate depression and related symptoms such as anxiety or insomnia. Since depression affects millions of Americans, this is an important question. Millions of people have tried St. John's wort, an herbal remedy, as an alternative or natural treatment for depression. St John's wort is a herbal remedy that has been used for hundreds of years to treat mental health problems. The herb is also being explored for the following health concerns: For example, in most studies, St. John's wort is used at doses of 300 mg three times daily (when the extract was standardized to 0.3 percent hypericin content). What should I watch for if I take St. John's wort? St. John's Wort Whips Depression Munich & San Antonio -- Depression is a common disorder worldwide. They come in pills, liquids, and powders, and are intended to supplement your diet. You should be alert for any of the following effects: Don't combine St John's wort and prescription antidepressants such as SSRIs. We have little safety information on St. John’s wort for pregnant women or children. While it is relatively well-studied for use in depression, results have been mixed. Key Facts —St. St. John’s Wort and Ashwagandha for Depression. St. John’s Wort for Pets. St. John’s wort limits the effectiveness of many prescription medicines. St. John’s wort also appeared to have fewer side effects than standard antidepressants. Later studies showed that St. John's Wort was also effective in treating Major Depression. Website: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/. If you choose to use it, be sure to learn all you can about it, and check with your doctor before taking it. Combining St. John’s wort and certain antidepressants can lead to a potentially life-threatening increase in your body’s levels of serotonin, a chemical produced by nerve cells. 77% of those users who reviewed St. john's wort reported a positive effect, while 15% reported a negative effect. St John’s wort may also impact on the breakdown of other drugs by It affects the levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine which make up the neurotransmitters in our brains. Many studies have evaluated the effectiveness of St. John's wort. Menopausal symptoms. It said that scientists had pooled data from 29 studies that compared the effect of the plant Hypericum perforatum to placebos and anti-depressants in treating people with depression. When combined with other medications, it can either cause a serious side effect or can interfere with the actions of the other drugs. 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